Development of a mouse model for heterotopic limb and composite-tissue transplantation

The mouse remains the most suitable model to study the complexities of the immune system and transplant rejection. The purpose of this study was to de scribe a new mouse model for heterotopic limb and composite tissue transpla ntation. Eighteen procedures were performed, including 10 heterotopic lower hind limb, four vascularized skin, and four vascularized muscle transplant ations. Three transplants were allogeneic, and the rest were syngeneic. All successful syngeneic transplants were harvested at 11 days postoperatively , except for one skin and one limb transplant that were followed for over 3 0 days. The allogeneic transplants showed signs of rejection between 7 to 1 1 days postoperatively. Results of mixed lymphocyte culture (p < 0.05) and histology evaluations from the allogeneic recipients were consistent with a cute rejection as the cause of allograft loss. The mortality rate was 16.7 percent, and the overall success rate was 72.2 percent. Details of the oper ative procedure are described, and important technical factors are discusse d.